News from our Secondary Principal, Craig Randall
Dear Parents,
My two amazing Vice-Principals Derek Lea and Peter Thorpe are in charge of different areas of the Secondary School and I want you to know some of the amazing things they are doing to help our school and your children grow. So with that I turn it over to Mr. Thorpe:
My two amazing Vice-Principals Derek Lea and Peter Thorpe are in charge of different areas of the Secondary School and I want you to know some of the amazing things they are doing to help our school and your children grow. So with that I turn it over to Mr. Thorpe:
Innovation
For many, when we speak of innovation or innovative practice, we immediately think of technology. Given how techno-centric our society has become, it’s not surprising that technology and innovation have become so closely connected. Indeed, in the Secondary School, we are using technology to enhance learning and communication in some very innovative ways. Our Grade 6 PE classes have been using an online tool called “The 60 Minute Kids Club” to track their healthy lifestyle habits (see last week’s newsletter). Our teachers are all using Haiku for communication, but several of them have begun ‘flipping’ their classrooms – putting the important new information up on Haiku BEFORE class for students to read ahead of time so that class time can be spent focusing on areas where students struggle and need extra help. Even our standardised student assessment – the MAP test – is now being administered online so that students and teachers can have immediate feedback that informs our instruction and allows us to adapt and modify our lessons based on the individual needs of each student.
However, innovation is JUST about technology. Teachers are using innovative practice within their classrooms to better engage students, individualise their support and instruction, to ensure equal participation, and to improve learning. All of our teachers have been trained in the use of Kagan Cooperative Structures which allow for purposeful movement, discussion, and peer learning and assessment. Strategies such as “Timed-Pair-Share”, “Numbered-Heads-Together” and “Quiz-Quiz-Trade” (ask your child, they will know what these are!) are being used by teachers on a regular basis. Instead of tests and essays, final unit assessments are happening in the form of mock trials of historical figures, students writing their own novels, showing their knowledge of fractions by multiplying baking recipes, and creating their own projectile launchers to study physics.
We are very proud of the innovation that happens at GAA – not just with technology, but in the ways that we engage students and make sure that everyone is engaged, learning, and successful.
Regards,
Peter Thorpe
Secondary Vice Principal
For many, when we speak of innovation or innovative practice, we immediately think of technology. Given how techno-centric our society has become, it’s not surprising that technology and innovation have become so closely connected. Indeed, in the Secondary School, we are using technology to enhance learning and communication in some very innovative ways. Our Grade 6 PE classes have been using an online tool called “The 60 Minute Kids Club” to track their healthy lifestyle habits (see last week’s newsletter). Our teachers are all using Haiku for communication, but several of them have begun ‘flipping’ their classrooms – putting the important new information up on Haiku BEFORE class for students to read ahead of time so that class time can be spent focusing on areas where students struggle and need extra help. Even our standardised student assessment – the MAP test – is now being administered online so that students and teachers can have immediate feedback that informs our instruction and allows us to adapt and modify our lessons based on the individual needs of each student.
However, innovation is JUST about technology. Teachers are using innovative practice within their classrooms to better engage students, individualise their support and instruction, to ensure equal participation, and to improve learning. All of our teachers have been trained in the use of Kagan Cooperative Structures which allow for purposeful movement, discussion, and peer learning and assessment. Strategies such as “Timed-Pair-Share”, “Numbered-Heads-Together” and “Quiz-Quiz-Trade” (ask your child, they will know what these are!) are being used by teachers on a regular basis. Instead of tests and essays, final unit assessments are happening in the form of mock trials of historical figures, students writing their own novels, showing their knowledge of fractions by multiplying baking recipes, and creating their own projectile launchers to study physics.
We are very proud of the innovation that happens at GAA – not just with technology, but in the ways that we engage students and make sure that everyone is engaged, learning, and successful.
Regards,
Peter Thorpe
Secondary Vice Principal
“Life in IB History - teaching real-life collaborative skills”
News from our IB Diploma Coordinator, Patrick Lyons
There is somewhat of a buzz around the place in IB Diploma at the moment. As a faculty, we have been collaborating and sharing with a view to preparing our younger High School students for IB Diploma. Joyce Halsey from Oxford Study Courses came in on Sunday and presented to all of our students in the top two grades and to parents of current and prospective IB Diploma students.
The Grade 11 parents in attendance were very interested to hear about how brain research is changing the way we think about effective study habits. There were plenty of questions including a request to share the presentation Joyce had compiled. Joyce was happy to comply and I attach a PDF version of the slides.
Last but certainly not least, Joyce’s final presentation to students and parents of Grade 10 was a useful introduction as I invited all of Grade 10 later in the week to an assembly where the possible options for IB Diploma were presented. Grade 10 now have a week to complete a survey about their preferences for next year and parents have been surveyed too. We want to offer the best range of courses we can in our IB Diploma and the views of our parents and students are vitally important to getting this right so I urge all Grade 10 parents and students to complete this survey before Wednesday.
Thank you all for your continued support.
Patrick Lyons
IB Diploma Coordinator
The Grade 11 parents in attendance were very interested to hear about how brain research is changing the way we think about effective study habits. There were plenty of questions including a request to share the presentation Joyce had compiled. Joyce was happy to comply and I attach a PDF version of the slides.
Last but certainly not least, Joyce’s final presentation to students and parents of Grade 10 was a useful introduction as I invited all of Grade 10 later in the week to an assembly where the possible options for IB Diploma were presented. Grade 10 now have a week to complete a survey about their preferences for next year and parents have been surveyed too. We want to offer the best range of courses we can in our IB Diploma and the views of our parents and students are vitally important to getting this right so I urge all Grade 10 parents and students to complete this survey before Wednesday.
Thank you all for your continued support.
Patrick Lyons
IB Diploma Coordinator
pdf_jh_osc_presentation_5_-_revision_and_review__190915.pdf | |
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Here is our Community and Secondary School Calendar - Scroll through the months to see what's planned for this year at GAA
Please make sure you check this calendar regularly for updates and new events